Novel is remote and tedious (8)
I believe the answer is:
tiresome
'tedious' is the definition.
('tiresome' can be a synonym of 'tedious')
'novel is remote' is the wordplay.
'novel' is an anagram indicator.
'is'+'remote'='isremote'
'isremote' with letters rearranged gives 'TIRESOME'.
'and' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for tiresome that I've seen before include "Causing impatience" , "Causing boredom" , "Tedious, dull" , "Boring, irksome (colloq.)" , "'Tedious, irksome (8)'" .)